What Makes Beeswax Candles so Great? - BeeswaxCo.com (2024)

FAQs

How do you make 100% pure beeswax candles? ›

100% beeswax candles are safe, environmentally friendly, and nontoxic. They are biodegradable and don't undergo any chemical processing. They burn very clean with little smoke since they aren't oil-based like paraffin candles. Bees play an impactful role in the restoration of our ecosystem.

Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently, and avoid tunneling. But, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it. Pour the wax and coconut oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.

The key to good consistency is a 50/50 beeswax/coconut oil mixture. And make sure there is room at the top of the jar so the wax doesn't overflow when you pour it in.

Process: Follow these steps when making beeswax candles or wax melts. Heat the wax to 185°F to add your fragrance.

Beeswax and Beeswax Sheets

One of the best candle waxes on the market, beeswax can be used to make all types of candles, including pillars, tapers, votives and containers. It is also available in beeswax sheets.

Candle Bloom

The dull white powdery finish that appears on the surface of pure beeswax (over time) is referred to as “Bloom”. It is a characteristic of pure beeswax candles, and bloom is a sign of the purity of beeswax candles.

One pound of wax should make you two 14 oz candles with some wax left over.

How can I figure out how much wax and fragrance I will need to make my candles? Per pound of wax, you will get about 20 ounces of volume. To find how much wax you will need, multiply the number of candles you are making by the amount of wax it will hold, and then divide that by 20.

How long should you wait to burn a beeswax candle after making it? ›

It may take 2 or 3, 4 hour burns for the wax to melt right to the edges of the jar. This is because beeswax is a hard wax that burns slowly, and also longer than other candle waxes. Always trim the wick to 5mm before lighting the candle – This removes carbon from the end of the wick and means the flame will be larger.

Because beeswax has a higher melting point than other waxes, it emits the brightest, most warm-toned flame. Beeswax candles also last longer than most other candles. Because it is so dense (0.958), it burns slower and drips less, and many consider beeswax candles to be drip free.

Adding fragrance to beeswax candles

You can use any fragrance or essential oil you like for candles. Test them to make sure you like the smell! In general, I use about 1-2 ounces of scent for every pound of beeswax. You may need to make a few test candles to find out what strength you prefer.

Experts in the field have deemed braided cotton wicks the best. Originally designed for beeswax candles, the square braided wick offers many benefits including: Better flow of vapour, the more open structure of these wicks channels the vapour up the wick better, even with impurities present.

How Much Essential Oil Do You Put In Beeswax Candles? As a rule of thumb, you will need at least 60 drops of essential oils for every 4 ounces of wax blend. You can use more, though. For a stronger scent use 2 teaspoons of essential oils in a 4 ounce candle.

One of the biggest advantage of using coconut oil is that it can eliminate wet spots and reduce frosting. Wet spots can sometimes be seen on the side of your glass container when the wax can't adhere to the surface properly. And frosting is the crystallization which sometimes occurs with soy wax.

Currently, paraffin waxes are thought to be the best for producing a powerful aroma, which is why many high-end businesses continue to utilize paraffin wax in their candles.

Double Pour. A candle pouring technique in which a container candle is poured in two stages. Typically, the first pour will fill 70-90% of the candle. After cooling, when the wax has contracted, the second pour fills the candle to the desired level.

Beeswax can easily become damaged by localized overheating and if it ignites can burn more ferociously than any chip pan fire. Beeswax does not boil - it just gets hotter and hotter until it ignites. Wax should only be melted in stainless steel, plastic, or tin plated containers.

Which is healthier beeswax or soy candles? ›

Beeswax releases negative ions, which attach positive ions (the ions found in most pollutants) in the air, neutralizing them and cleaning up the air you breathe. While some soy candles contain scents that may trigger allergies or headaches, beeswax candles might help purify the air to prevent such things.

Beeswax and soy candles usually burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Furthermore, beeswax candles can actually clean your air by releasing some negative ions that easily bind with toxins to help eliminate them from your indoor air. You can also use oil diffusers and essential oils instead of burning candles.

Beeswax. Beeswax candles are the healthiest choice in candles. Made from the caps of bee honeycombs, beeswax candles burn clean, are very long-burning, and give off a pleasant natural fragrance as they burn. Beeswax candles are dripless when burned properly, and release negative ions which help clean the air in a room.

Luxury candles tend to use higher-end alternatives to paraffin, such as coconut wax, beeswax, and soy wax. For example, our candles are made with natural soy wax, which burns less quickly than paraffin and allows you to savor the ambience and aroma up to 50% longer.

Vanilla just so happens to be America's most popular flavor, so it makes sense as to why this scent is so high up on the list.

Yankee candles are made from paraffin wax, as well as essential oils for fragrance and cotton for the wicks.

Should you add Coconut Oil to Beeswax Candles? Candles can be made from beeswax alone, but adding coconut oil extends the burning time, making your candle last longer. It also helps prevent tunneling (when the center of your candle burns, but the outer edges don't, which wastes a lot of wax and a lot of money!)

White and yellow beeswax pellets differ in color based on the filtration process. White beeswax is turned white after undergoing a pressure-filtration process. Yellow beeswax is typically processed less and therefore left in its more natural state.

The first burn is the most important as it lays the foundation for future melt pools each time you light the candle. Some candle-makers like to call this a "memory ring" because candle wax has a "memory" and will always burn to the same spot each time.

We recommend using 30 to 40 drops of essential oils for a single eight-ounce candle. Remember that soy and beeswax aren't known for their ability to throw scent. If you're concerned that your candle will be too strong, start with 30 drops.

What is the ratio of wax to scent? ›

A: The industry standard is considered 0.5 ounce of fragrance per pound of wax. For double-scenting, you would use 1 ounce of fragrance per pound of wax. For triple-scenting your candles you can use 1.5 ounces of fragrance per pound of wax.

A candle-making business can be highly profitable. It has a low startup cost, doesn't require much equipment or technical knowledge, and you can make candles at home. Candles are also easy to promote online, lowering your marketing costs and increasing margins.

Prices for candles vary anywhere between $5 for mass-market, and between $30 and $80+ for luxury jar or pillar candles [7]. The average profit margin to aim for on a new candle business is between 25 and 50% according to candlescience.

A candle-making business can be highly profitable. Not only is there a low-cost barrier to entry, but the candle-making industry is expected to reach nearly $5 billion by 2026. People love candles, and they're most likely going to continue buying candles for a long time.

Burning a candle for too long will cause carbon to collect on the wick, leading it to “mushroom.” The wick will then become unstable and produce a dangerously large flame. Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot. Avoid this by always following the manufacturer's instructions.

Work in a ventilated area without any extraneous air movement such as drafts or breezes. Lastly, the temperature of the candle jar being used can also affect how quickly or slowly the poured-in wax cools. For example, a cold jar causes wax near the edges to cool even faster, contributing to sinkhole formation.

The ideal range for beeswax candle dipping is between 155° and 175° F. Do not allow the wax temperature to exceed 185° to prevent wax from darkening. String wick through candle dipping rack per instructions.

Ensuring your wick is trimmed to at least half an inch before each burn time is vital for the candle to produce a strong enough scent. If the wick is too long, then the flame will be too large and burn the melted wax at a faster rate – giving the scent less time to evaporate and fill a room.

I use about 25 drops of essential oil (approximately 1 ml) for every 1 oz (28 g) of beeswax. It's enough to scent the entire room. When your beeswax is melted, remove it from the heat and add your essential oils. Stir gently with your glass stirring rod, or your spoon.

What is the shelf life of beeswax? ›

Pure beeswax whether in blocks or Comb Foundations, has an almost indefinite shelf life if stored in cool dry conditions. Samples which are thousands of years old have been tested and found to have almost identical properties to freshly produced beeswax.

The Right Ratio

A general rule of thumb when making salves is to use one part beeswax to three to five parts oil. If you're adding a substance that's solid at room temperature, such as shea butter, it can affect your ratio, so a little experimentation might be in order.

Note: Beeswax is a natural product and densities may vary, therefore weights are approximate. One pound of wax makes roughly six "12" candles.

Beeswax burns hotter than paraffin wax and therefore will have less soot. Beeswax Candles burn brighter with a beautiful warm glow. They emit a natural light of the same light spectrum as the sun. This helps create the perfect ambience for dining or for a quiet moment of meditation, reading or while you're in the bath!

Experts in the field have deemed braided cotton wicks the best. Originally designed for beeswax candles, the square braided wick offers many benefits including: Better flow of vapour, the more open structure of these wicks channels the vapour up the wick better, even with impurities present.

Making homemade candles saves around 62% of the money spent to buy candles online or in stores for an entire year. It is cheaper to make your candle if the number of candles you buy per year is more than 5, with each individual store-bought candle that costs around 26.38$ (18.99£).